A view model or viewpoints framework in systems engineering, software engineering, and enterprise engineering is a framework which defines a coherent set of views to be used in the construction of a system architecture, software architecture, or enterprise architecture. A view is a representation of the whole system from the perspective of a related set of concerns.
Simplified illustration of the Zachman Framework with an explanation of the rows. The original framework is more advanced, see for an example here.
The RM-ODP view model, which provides five generic and complementary viewpoints on the system and its environment.
DoDAF linkages among views.
Federal Enterprise Architecture levels and attributes
Software architecture is the set of structures needed to reason about a software system and the discipline of creating such structures and systems. Each structure comprises software elements, relations among them, and properties of both elements and relations.
Software architecture activities